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Disney and ABC Sue FCC Over Free Speech Protections
Confirmed
In Short: Disney and ABC are challenging the FCC in court over free speech protections amid President Trump's criticism of ABC.
Tuesday, a federal court in Washington, D.C., will host a legal battle between the Walt Disney Co. and the FCC over the extent of First Amendment protections during President Donald Trump's presidency.
Disney and ABC are seeking to block FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's move to review Disney's ownership of eight stations as part of the ABC Network, arguing that this review is politically motivated and violates their First Amendment rights.
President Trump has repeatedly called for ABC to fire late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who has mocked the president.
Carr has cited the requirement of stations to serve the 'public interest,' initiated investigations of Disney's diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, and criticized the network as biased, though he denies the license review is linked to ABC's content.
Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro has authorized a high-stakes fight against the administration in court, emphasizing the plain wording and meaning of the First Amendment.
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has filed a friend of the court brief on ABC's behalf, hiring a former U.S. solicitor general to represent the organization.
In a court filing Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that White House access is a privilege and that the president may restrict entry to protect sensitive information.
The organizations want the court to restore their access while the lawsuit proceeds.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case brought by a former employee of a Catholic school who said their employment contract was not renewed after they stated their intention to undergo a gender transition.
Reyzl Grace MoChridhe sued Academy of Holy Angels and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, alleging that those institutions violated state protections for sex and sexual orientation or gender identity.
However, the Catholic institutions argued the Minnesota Human Rights Act has exceptions that aim to protect church autonomy, and they are free to hire individuals who adhere to their policies.
The Kentucky Supreme Court will review a decision denying the Missionaries of St. John the Baptist, Inc., the right to build a grotto on their property, which could prevent countless congregations in the state from fulfilling their religious calling.
What this adds
Disney and ABC are set to face off against the FCC in a federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, challenging the agency's actions under FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.
Disney and ABC argue that this review is politically motivated and violates their First Amendment rights.
Trump's criticism has intensified the tension between Disney and the FCC.
Background
Disney and ABC are challenging the FCC in court over free speech protections amid President Trump's criticism of ABC.
What's confirmed
- And under Carr, the FCC is moving to review Disney's ownership of all eight of the stations it owns, as part of the ABC Network, years ahead of schedule.
- Disney and ABC are seeking to get U.S. District Judge Loren L.
- But new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro has authorized a high-stakes fight against the administration in court.
- The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has filed a friend of the court brief on ABC's behalf, hiring a former U.S. solicitor general who has argued repeatedly before the U.S. Supreme Court, to represent the organization at the district court level.
- In a court filing Tuesday, the Justice Department argued that White House access is a privilege and that the president may restrict entry to protect sensitive information.
- They argue that President Donald Trump targeted them because of their coverage, violating the First Amendment and due process protections.
- MINNEAPOLIS (OSV News) — The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments Sept. 1 in a case brought by a former employee of a Catholic school in the state who said their employment contract was not renewed after they stated their intention to undergo a gender transition.
- The Court will review a decision by the Kentucky Supreme Court denying the Missionaries of St.
What's still developing
- "can do this the easy way or the hard way."
- "We are fully behind you — the way we're fully behind a bulletproof vest."
- The trial court rejected the neighbors’ objections, but the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed that decision, holding a ban of the grotto did not violate the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
- Instead, he said, ABC is complaining about his drive to take the "public interest" component of the law seriously.
- "You come up all the time. [Fans] will normally say, how does it feel, being disliked by the current president. And we always say, as long as you're on the air, we're fine," Oliver told Kimmel.
- Trump's criticism has intensified the tension between Disney and the FCC.
- Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, who argued on behalf of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, told OSV News Sept. 4, the bishops in Minnesota previously “issued guiding principles for Catholic schools on human sexuality and gender identity” in 2020.
- “I lost a community I cared about and work that was intensely meaningful,” MoChridhe said.
- Those principles state Catholic schools in the state “will relate to each student in a way that is respectful of and consistent with each student’s God-given sexual identity and biological sex.” The bishops also re-issued their bullying prevention policies with that document.
- “Telling a church it can’t build a modest place for prayer and reflection on its own property is outrageous,” said Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO, and Chief Counsel.